Mental Health Parity

Dear Friends and Colleagues:
Representative Ed Homan (R-Tampa) has been tirelessly working on a Mental Health Parity Bill.
Today, it passed with 18-Yeas and )-Nays the Healthcare Council.
House Bill 19 amends s. 627.6688, F.S., to add substance-related disorders to the mandated offering required
by that section. The bill repeals s. 627.669, F.S., which imposes a mandated offering for substance abuse
services. The bill further amends s. 627.6688, F.S., to specifically define those mental health conditions that
must be covered within the mandated offering, generally including all diagnostic categories of mental health
conditions listed in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and as
listed in the mental and behavioral disorders section of the current International Classification of Diseases.
The bill deletes current law limiting mental health benefits by specific service areas, such as inpatient benefits,
and inserts a general statement that the mental health benefits may not be more restrictive than the treatment
limitations and cost-sharing requirements that are applicable to other diseases, illnesses, and medical
conditions.
The bill mandates that the parity requirements be separately applied to each benefit package offered by an
employer.
The bill would have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on the State Employees’ Group Health Self-
Insurance Trust Fund.
The effective date of the bill is January 1, 2009.
For more detailed information please visit http://edhoman.com/public/parity.html


Bill Number: 0019
Bill Name: HB 19
Action: Favorable With Council Substitute
Committee: Healthcare Council
Location: Morris Hall (17 HOB)
Duration: 3.50
Date: 4/8/2008 8:30:00 AM
Sponsor: Homan (CO-SPONSORS) Anderson; Brandenburg; Brisé; ...
Subject: Coverage for Mental, Nervous, and Substance-relate...


Y Anderson Y Galvano Y Harrell Y Patronis Y Schwartz
Y Ausley Y Garcia, R. Y Hays Y Porth Y Skidmore
Y Bean Y Gibson, H. Y Hooper Y Roberson Y Zapata
Y Cusack Y Grimsley Y Hudson

Total Yeas: 18 Total Nays: 0 Total Missed: 0 Total Votes: 18

Please contact your legislator to thank them for their support and encourage them to move this bill forward for final passage.
Also contact Rep. Ed Homan to express your support for his efforts and contribute to his campaign.
Yours
Bernd